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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Dhaliwal refutes allegations of drug links, explains police action
Ludhiana: Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal dismissed allegations levelled by BJP leader Anil Sareen on the issue of drugs as completely false, fabricated, and baseless. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Addressing mediapersons on Monday, Dhaliwal said, "He should withdraw his statement, or else legal action will be taken against him." He accused Sareen of making "misleading claims" to tarnish his public image, adding that the facts were exactly the "opposite" of what was stated. Dhaliwal also said that he would send a legal notice to Sareen within the next few days. Dhaliwal stated that on May 28, Ajnala police arrested six to seven individuals from Lakhowal village in his constituency for drug use. "The next day, village residents told me that two of those arrested were caught unfairly, that they were drug addicts but did not sell drugs. One of those boys returned from a rehabilitation centre just a day earlier. After this, I contacted the SHO and went to the police station. I asked the police officer whether those two boys were drug users or dealers. The SHO said that he would investigate and inform me the next day," Dhaliwal maintained. He added that he instructed the police to send them to a rehabilitation centre if they only used drugs but did not sell them. T Tired of too many ads? go ad free now he minister said that the following day, the SHO sent both the men to the Amritsar Rehabilitation Centre and FIRs were registered against the youths involved in drug peddling. He also showed copies of the FIRs to mediapersons and said that he had talked about the incident on his social media page. Minister Dhaliwal said that BJP and Akali leaders did not empathise with the pain of drug addicts' families as they had never been affected by the problem themselves. He added that his family went faced the pain of drugs when his 32-year-old nephew died of an overdose in 2013. The minister said that on receiving the news, he returned to India from abroad and decided to stay on. He added that even today, his mother cries while remembering him. Dhaliwal also maintained that when drugs were being sold in large quantities during the Akali-BJP govt, Punjab Police ADGP Shashikant launched an anti-drug campaign, which he supported by organising a large rally with him in his village. He added that he always fought against drugs and terrorism and witnessed the severe damage caused by drugs. MSID:: 121730405 413 |
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Punjab to set up robust rehab system as more addicts come forward
The cabinet sub-committee set up by the Punjab government to 'wage a war against drugs' decided on Monday (June 9, 2025) to establish a robust system for the treatment of drug addicts amid an increase in the number of drug addicts seeking treatment at government de-addiction centers and hospitals, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema has said. He said this crucial step comes as the ongoing campaign against the drug menace has successfully disrupted drug supply lines, leading to a notable increase in individuals seeking treatment. 'With an increasing number of drug addicts seeking treatment at government de-addiction centres and hospitals, the sub-committee has moved swiftly to expand capacity and enhance medical support. Decisions include the immediate recruitment of 200 psychologists on a temporary basis for six months, with the Health Department tasked to secure permanent recruitment in the interim,' he said, addressing a press conference here. 16,000 arrests The sub-committee has also directed the Health Department to submit a comprehensive proposal within a week for recruitment of all necessary health staff, he added. The Finance Minister said as part of the 'war against drugs' campaign from March 1, 2025, till June 8, as many as 9,580 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and 16,348 persons have been arrested. 'Strict action has been taken against drug traffickers, leading to the demolition of properties belonging to 118 individuals involved in the drug trade. During this period, significant quantities of illicit substances were recovered, including 622 kg of heroin, 14,976 kg of poppy husk, 252 kg of opium, 264 kg of ganja, and 26,49,847 narcotic pills,' he said. On opposition parties' misgivings about the campaign, Mr. Cheema said, 'Drugs took root in Punjab during the Akali-BJP and Congress governments, making the youth vulnerable. I urge leaders of opposition parties to support this crucial campaign, rather than engaging in narrow politics that disregards public welfare and, conversely, promotes drug-related issues.'
Time of India
03-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Work on Dhuri-Malerkotla missing link nears completion but official opening awaits Ludhiana West byelection results.
Ludhiana: Almost 12 years after it was first proposed, the much-anticipated Rail Over Bridge (ROB) on Dhandhran Road near the Dhuri-Malerkotla line is nearing completion — but residents will have to wait until after the by-election results are announced for official access. Two reasons have been cited for the delay in opening: the bridge must be inaugurated by the Punjab chief minister, and final construction and safety work remains unfinished. Despite this, local commuters have already begun bypassing barricades and driving on the yet-to-be-opened ROB, leading to safety concerns. The Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA), which constructed the approach roads on both sides of the bridge, has warned that the site is still under development and is not yet safe for use. Workers are currently completing final touches, including painting the retaining walls, installing road markings, and placing reflective cat's-eye indicators. Several sharp curves on the 200-foot connecting stretch also pose accident risks, especially with high-speed vehicles, prompting authorities to delay the official opening until proper safety measures are in place. The project was originally conceived in 2012 under the Akali-BJP government to ease traffic congestion by linking the 200-foot road to Gill Road near Dhandhran village. However, bureaucratic delays and lack of coordination between state and central governments stalled construction for years. It was only after a change in government that the project resumed in earnest. Now in its final stage, the Dhuri-Malerkotla missing link awaits only finishing touches and a formal ribbon-cutting — a symbolic gesture holding up a decade-long infrastructure wait. MSID:: 121596615 413 |
Hindustan Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Clarify BJP's stance on CISF deployment at Nangal dam, AAP tells Jakhar
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab on Sunday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Sunil Jakhar to clarify his party's stance on the central government's decision to deploy the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) project at Nangal. In a statement, AAP spokesperson Neel Garg claimed that during the all-party meeting led by chief minister Bhagwant Mann on the water issue, Jakhar stood with the Punjab government and assured every possible support, but his party's media in-charge was now supporting the decision to deploy CISF. 'This contradiction is baffling,' he said, asking Jakhar to state his position. Neel Garg said that Punjab has the rightful claim over its water, and neither the central government nor BBMB can impose their will arbitrarily. 'During previous governments, Punjab's canal system was in a dire state, primarily due to the Akali-BJP government's neglect. However, the Mann government has improved the canal water supply to over 60% of areas. Despite these efforts, Punjab is already facing a shortage of water for its farmers, making it impossible to share water with other states,' he said.
